Odisha Gears Up for Mass Drug Administration Drive to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis by 2027

Bhubaneswar, January 2026: In a strategic move to align with the national goal of eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis by 2027, the Government of Odisha has finalized the schedule for its upcoming Mass Drug Administration (MDA) programme, set to take place from February 10th to 19th, 2026.

This targeted campaign will be implemented across six implementation units (Blocks/Urban area) in five districts, specifically including two units in Bolangir and one unit each in Dhenkanal, Baragarh, Jajpur & Ganjam. To ensure seamless execution, a high-level state coordination committee meeting was held today, under the chairmanship of the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department Ms. Aswathy S. Mission Director (NHM) Dr. Brunda D., Managing Director (OSMCL) Dr. Poma Tudu, Special Secretary to Govt (PH) jitendra mohan bebortha & Directors Family Welfare Department, along with the other health officials have participated in the meeting. Officers from other line departments like Women & Child development, School & Mass Education, Housing & Urban Development & Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Department attended the meeting along with developmental partners like WHO, PCI & GHS. Participants from four Govt. Medical colleges and ICMR-Bhubaneswar have also participated in the meeting.

During the session, the Director of Public Health Dr. Nilakantha Mishra highlighted the current filariasis scenario and outlined the rigorous plan for the February drive, emphasizing that inter-sectoral coordination is the backbone of the program’s success. Addressing the persistent challenges of absenteeism and drug refusal observed in previous rounds, the Commissioner-cum-Secretary called upon all departments to intensify social mobilization and ensure supervised drug consumption within communities. Furthermore, the Mission Director (NHM) underscored the necessity of strengthened monitoring, directing state consultants and NVBDCP officials to focus specifically on high-risk areas with low coverage and high microfilaria rates. The meeting concluded with a collective commitment to treat this noble cause as a priority, ensuring that Odisha remains on track to eliminate the disease by 2027 aligning with the National goal.

Team Maverick